Girls Talk and Talk
"I am glad you are back", Deanna says leaning over her chocolate sunday.
"I really need to exercise more. I gained 5 pounds since Guinan runs this place and you were gone!"
Beverly smiles digging into her fruit cocktail. Finally Deanna managed to get hold of her friend to chat and to maybe talk some counseling words. Or rather stilling her curiosity concerning the captain and her friend. Those two seem to spend more time together since she is back and she also noted the Captain to be in a lighter mood. She had tried to read their emotions but both of them were quite good in hiding from her.
Beverly laughs.
"Actually I also missed working out with you."
"So it is a date?"
Deanna questioned.
"Yes!" Beverly answered.
"Same time same place."
They smile at each other.
"I missed you Deanna."
The simple statement of affection touches Deanna and she smiles at her. It also encourages her to ask some questions. She really wants some answers from her friend.
"So how is it to be back?"
Deanna asks taking a spoon full of chocolate icecream in her mouth.
Beverly's face starts to shine. She smiles.
"Wonderful!"
"And settling in again is going well?"
Beverly nods.
"In a way everything is as it used to be and then again everything is so different. Wesley has grown so much. Geordi made Chief Engineer..."
She makes a small pause.
"Everybody has grown together so much and I feel a bit left out because I was not here when all this happened."
Deanna shakes her head.
"You are definitely not standing on the side. Everybody is so glad to have you back!"
Especially the captain, Deanna thinks to herself. He is different since Beverly is back, one reason being so is of course that he was relieved of Dr Pulaski. Those two seemed to be like cat and dog as one says. He ever got used to the new doctor and since Beverly is back Deanna figures he might never even had given Pulaski a chance because he was grieving Beverly.
Beverly brushes a strain out of her face.
"I don't really feel left out. It is more like I missed my baby doing his first steps."
"I can understand that. But sometimes one needs to take a break to change something."
Beverly looks at Deanna in a puzzled manner.
"What do you mean?"
"Sometime development needs space. One cannot push certain things to change or happen."
Beverly is still puzzled where to Deanna is leading this but decides to not ask any more question about this. She has the feeling this conversation might take a turn into a direction she doesn't want it to turn. She starts to fumble on the chair next to her and pulls out a small gift.
Better distract the Counselor she thinks to herself. She loves Deanna as a friend but she is a very private person when it comes to her inner feelings and is not willing to have them on display today. She puts the box on the table and slides it over to Deanna.
"I got you a present from San Francisco", she smiles.
Deanna smiles back.
"Thank you."
"Open it!"
Deanna opens the box and pulls out a rainbow colored bandana.
"It is a replica of a 1970s bandana. Back than there was a huge commune of Hippies living in San Francisco. They lived for love and peace. Somehow it reminded me of you", Beverly says.
Deanna answers with a big smile letting touching the colorful material and let it slip around her arm to try the color.
"Thank you Beverly. That is very sweet."
They start to talk about Beverlys time at Star Fleet Medical and Deanna fills her in on the latest developments on the Enterprise. Yeah! Filling in! One could never call it gossip. It starts to be time for diner and Deanna wonders wether she should ask Beverly to dine together.
But suddenly she feels the atmosphere changing. She looks up and sees the Captain entering Ten Forward. He looks around, obviously in search for someone specific. When he looks into her direction, he nods and Deanna can feel a wave of disappointment wash over him. She breaths in through her teeth. This will be interesting.
Beverly, who is sitting with the back towards the entrance turns around to see what Deanna is looking at. Hers and Jean Luc's eyes lock and both start to smile. Deanna can basically see the joy washing over him seeing Beverly. Deanna raises her hand to signal him to move over.
Then she quickly touches Beverlys arm and whispers.
"He comes to Ten Forward a lot since you are back."
Beverly rolls her eyes as an answer.
"I wouldn't know."
She answers lifting her shoulders innocently.
Deanna's dark eyes are dancing with joy. She knew it. And she was hoping that those two would make it through some time. Some time soon. She is a romantic after all. And in her opinion they are perfect for each other.
Jean Luc is finally standing at their table.
"Hello Counselor, Doctor", he greets them.
"Hello Captain!"
Deana says and holds out a hand to the empty chair next to Beverly.
"I was just about to ask Beverly, wether we should have diner together here. Care to join us?"
Deanne could see that he was considering his options. Have diner with them or find an excuse why he came here in the first place. It seems he decides for diner because he starts to move towards the empty place, Deanna had offered. It does not go unnoticed to her that his hand intentionally is lightly brushing over Beverlys shoulders when, he passes behind her. Deanna smiles to herself. This was definitely going into the right direction.
Diner is easy. They laugh and talk. In the beginning it has a tendency of being stiff and uneasy but Beverly and Jean Luc quickly find their usual easy rhythm. Deanna is more and more left watching the other two. Of course she had known, that they were getting along pretty well, but she is astonished how close they actually are and how at ease they are with one another.
Talking to Beverly, the Captain relaxes completely. Deanna notices his easy manner, leaning back in a chair. She notices that whatever Beverly is saying, he clings to her lips smiling. Had Beverly spoken Klingon, his reception would probably not have changed. She openes her mind and listens into his direction. Calamity and satisfaction is what she senses from him. And Happiness.
"Hmmm", Deanna starts to draw some attention to herself.
Beverly turns to face Deanna.
"I am sorry", she says, noticing that her friend had been a mere spectator for quite some time now.
"We have completely left you out."
"Nothing to apologize about", Deanna replies.
"I however need to get going. Commander Riker has announced it to be Poker night today and I intend to have my share of the winnings."
Thinking quickly she adds.
"You two are very welcome to join."
Beverly smiles and brushes her hands against each other.
"I haven't been in a Poker game since I left the academy, but I'd love to fresh up on playing!"
"So come if you want to. But I must warn you. Will is a pretty good player."
"The better", Beverly replies.
"This sounds like fun."
She turns her head to face the Captain.
"What do you think Jean Luc?"
Jean Luc gazes from Deanna to Beverly and shakes his head. He feels uncomfortable to join the Poker Night. He had heard his staff talking about it but was never asked to join. He doesn't feel uninvited but he has a feeling he better not comes to not disturb the easy round they formed during the last year.
"I am sorry ladies. I have to catch up on some reports."
Beverly's smile slightly fades, but on the other hand she understands that he probably prefers to keep a bit to himself and not impose on his senior staff private activities. They get up together and stroll towards the door.
"Thank you ladies for the nice diner", he states, when it is time to turn into different directions.
"It was nice having you for diner", Deanna says starting to head into the direction of the closest turbolift.
Jean Luc grabs Beverlys arm. The pure touch of his hand sends happy shivers down her body. His voice barely a whisper he asks.
"Do I see you for breakfast tomorrow?"
Beverly turns around. Deanna had already turned around the corner. The walkway is empty. She grabs his hand. Quickly leaning into him, she squeezes his hand and brushes a light kiss on his cheek. He smiles at her answer. The touch only lasts a second or two and when she lets go of his hand she is wearing her doctor face again. She turns around and starts to hunt after Deanna.
"Good Luck Beverly", he calls after her.
Walking she turns around.
"Luck is not an option. But thank you anyways", she answers him laughingly.
